Whose stories get told in the media?

Look around in our classroom. Chances are, you’re sitting next to someone from a different country, culture, or background. Maybe their story is completely different from yours or maybe it’s suprisingly similair. But here’s the thing: not all of our stories make it into the media.

Whether it’s through films, news, music, or TikTok, the media tells us who matters, what’s “normal,” and who gets to be heard. But too often, it tells just one version of the truth, usually shaped by those who’ve always had the mic.

Women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, migrants, working-class voices. They’re often underrepresented, misrepresented, or left out altogether.

When certain groups are only ever shown as criminals, victims, or “problems,” it affects how society sees them and how they see themselves. And when entire communities are invisible, it’s easy to forget they exist at all.

We are the next generation of media-makers. We come from all over the world. We carry different languages, histories, and identities. That’s powerful, because it means we can change the narrative.

When diverse people are behind the camera, at the editor’s desk, or writing the script, media becomes richer, fairer, and more real.

What we can do is: Support creators and platforms that represent different perspectives. Notice who’s missing and speak up about it. And share your own story, in your own way. Because when more people get to speak, we all gain a deeper understanding of each other.

In the media you consume, and the media you create, whose stories are being told?
And more importantly: whose stories are still waiting to be heard?